I knew I could

TaDa!! I have managed a post a day for all of October, my first Blogtoberfest! I aim now to blog a little more often, I know it won't be daily but maybe weekly. Time for a cuppa and a spot of knitting now though, My tea leaves cardi is coming along nicely.

Little Red

 

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Just one more day for blogtoberfest to go and I have actually managed a post a day! This really is an achievement for me, who barely manages a post a month most of the time. Some posts have been very minimal but it has shown me how quick and easy it can be to blog. So hopefully I will post a little more often now I have my mojo on. It has been a great opportunity to discover some really good blogs along the way.            

Call the midwife

The series has recently aired on TV, I wanted to watch it but missed the first episode. So I bought a copy on the weekend. Looking forward to sitting down with some knitting and working my way through the episodes. It has received good feedback so I hope I enjoy it!

 

Description

Based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth Call the Midwife is a moving, intimate, funny and, above all, true-to-life look at the stories and friendships of midwifery and family in 1950's East End London.
New comer Jessica Raine is supported in the lead role by a stellar cast including Jenny Agutter (The Railway Children, Spooks), Pam Ferris (Little Dorrit, Darling Buds of May), Miranda Hart (Miranda) in her first dramatic role, plus Judy Parfitt (Little Dorrit, Girl with a Pearl Earring), Helen George (Hollyoaks, Doctors) Bryony Hannah (Cemetery Junction) and Laura Main (Monarch of the Glen).
When Jenny Lee (Jessica Raine) first arrives in London's East End, she knows nothing about hardship, poverty or indeed, life itself. Raised in the wealthy English countryside, she's previously spent time in Paris and could have been anything but she chose to become a nurse and now, as a newly qualified midwife, Jenny has come to work in the poorest area of the city. Attached to an order of nursing nuns at Nonnatus House, Jenny is part of a team of midwives who visit the expectant mothers of Poplar, providing the poorest women with the best possible care.
The life that greets Jenny Lee is a world away from what she's used to – either at home or in the hospitals where she was trained. The streets teem with children, and families of between six and ten kids are commonplace. With just one eight-bed maternity ward to serve the whole district, most deliveries take place at home where few have indoor sanitation and none have hot running water.
Call the Midwife is a fascinating portrayal of birth, life, death and a community on the brink of huge social change and offers a gripping insight into a world that is so drastically different from how we live now.

Tea party

 

 

We went to the foreshore markets for lunch today. Its one of our favourite weekend things to do. Good food and some music, a little walk by the sea. I happened upon a store I haven't noticed before - Shelli Morse Design  and found a skirt I couldn't help buying : Tea party, perfect for my little miss 6 Scarlett.

 

 

Woohoo!

 

 

We have been looking around for some old armchairs or something to give us more seating and fit into our small lounge room. Anyway Jay came across this cute little retro style 2 seater in a chuck out pile. You have got to love a freebie! Speaking of freebies we went down to our local market this morning and one of the stall holders had a box full of stuff for free. Jay found this cool old holiday knitting bag. I did spend some money and got some lovely homemade blueberry jam and marmalade. Yummo!

 

 

Thank goodness

 

I am completely pooped! Thank goodness its the weekend.

 

 

A local craft group!

I am so excited! I have met a kindred spirit, yep another knitter who lives nearby. When we moved back up the coast I looked up our local area for a knitting guild or some such group but couldn't really find anything. We don't really have a decent LYS either, thank goodness for Ravelry and online yarn shops! Anyway we are going to make our own local group, and who knows maybe one day our own LYS! Well I can dream can't I? My new friend has started us off with a Ravelry group, now we just need to organise the when and where for official group meets.

Music to my ears

Imogen tried out for an opportunity class for year 5 and 6 and has been made an offer. We are all very proud of her and wanted to get her something to congratulate her and make her feel special. With four daughters it is hard to make sure each individual gets a little special appreciation from time to time, but we do try. We took Imogen to the local music store to pick out 2 Cd's as she has been more and more interested in music lately. The bonus for me came when she chose Birdy and got Pink's new album for me.

Little Miss Busy

I have been crazy busy this afternoon, no time for craft, and barely anytime for this post, see you all tomorrow!

Almost half way

I spent the afternoon working my way through crafty minx:crochet school and have completed a swatch with single, half-double, double, treble and double-treble. One of the biggest problems with my crochet is I had no real idea which was what. I have been losing stitches in the past as well and wasn't working into the chain at the end of each row; that is all so much clearer now. I am looking forward to the second half of the course especially granny squares and how to read patterns. Its still a little confusing with the UK and US different names for the stitches. Anyway here is my swatch please note I am up to lesson 11 which covers weaving in the ends.

Crochet School

My crochet skills are very basic. I really want to figure out patterns and am happy to have discovered craftyminx crochet school. I really love granny square blankets and have been keeping all my left over wool from recent projects so I can make a very colourful scrappy crochet blanket.

Stinking Hot

It was a bit of a scorcher today here on the mid north coast of N.S.W. We are lucky to live around the corner from some of Australia's best swimming beaches and bays so we had a picnic lunch and cooled down in the ocean.

Little ditties

                 A little inspiration and good sense found on pinterest.               

Missing Middy

I chose to take some time out from midwifery this year. This was a huge decision because it has been a big passion of mine. I am missing it terribly!! I am currently doing some clinical teaching with general nursing students which is a nice change, the normal hours have been a dream. It has been much better for my family, knowing when I will be home and planning things for weekends. I am finding full time too much though.

Living by the sea

 

 

                                             Looking forward to this Summer!

Planning a mini break

We are in need of a little holiday so I am planning a mini break for next weekend to one of our favourite spots, Yamba. We will just pitch the tent for a couple of nights so hopefully the weather will be good to us. Sometimes we go up for a day trip but we have a lot of things we like to do there. We love the blue pools, the rock pool and beach, shopping, food, walks and the ferry trip. Here are some pics from earlier this year on one of our Yamba visits.

Dancing Rainbows

We bought this new pretty for our back deck. I am always drawn to the rainbow things, and the best thing about this is it catches the sun perfectly and makes dancing rainbows!

More Physi

 

Today was Imogen's turn. Her 9-10 years team came 2nd. The above picture was taken just before they took to the floor. I didn't get a picture of her on her own in her individual costume, but she wore it to the inter club comps earlier in the year so below is a pic of that.

After my ramblings here yesterday about the competitiveness I spoke to the girls last night and Imogen said "its not all about winning and I have made some really good friends". I saw that today when one of the girls was one of the 'champion girls' and Imogen went over to hug and congratulate her. It was nice to see Imogen was really excited for her. Around us there were more tears and upset little girls, that still makes me feel terrible. My girls are both keen to return to Physi next year and Scarlett wants to give it another go too. Scarlett did one lesson at the beginning of the year and said she didn't want to do it anymore because it hurt her muscles!

Physical Culture

An entire weekend full of Physi comps : hair curling, costumes, ballets - busy with physi!! Laura had her comp today and had some fun. I struggle with competitive sports but Laura and Imogen really wanted to give physi a go this year. They have both really enjoyed it, I maintain the whole "play like there are no winners" idea. I could see some disappointment on Laura's face today after her individuals when she didn't make it through. She did make her clubs team and they got 4th place, and she was so pleased to get a special badge. Through the year I have met some lovely people, however I did notice some changes amongst our group the closer we got to the comps and the pressure some parents put on their kids. I often wonder if its more about them then their children. Imogen has her comp tomorrow. Scarlett has asked if she can do it next year, she likes the sparkly costumes and fancy hair! I am not sure what I think about another year, I am looking forward to my weekends back for a while anyway.

Jacaranda

 

 

I love Spring time, colour everywhere, clear sky and the smell of Jasmine in the air. The hint of Summer coming, more picnics, perhaps some camping. I love to see my Jacaranda in bloom on the front yard and my favourite colour sprinkled across the lawn.

CO: tea leaves cardigan

I have cast on a tiny tea leaves cardigan for my dear friend Emma, who is in need of a little love. I am working with cascade yarn and loving my oh snap project bag and Namaste buddy case!

Laura's Jane cardi

I am so pleased to have finished this lovely little Jane cardi another fab Tikki pattern  for Laura's 8th birthday at the end of November, it will be a great edition to her summer wardrobe to pop on with cool summer dresses of an evening. I love the bright green colour. The yarn is Biggan design DK merino and was great to work with, bought from Tangled Yarns.

A whole year

Can you believe a whole year has passed since we said our " I do's"? That's 14 years stacked up with one as Mr and Mrs. The year has had some bumps and knocks, but I am glad to have this man of mine and our beautiful girls by my side. There is definitely always something to be grateful for.

wooly suprise

I am a lucky, lucky knitter. My lovely friend gifted me with this above stash and more. So I am busy sorting and planning some projects. Bliss!

I also decided it was time to freshen up sea Star and changed the look of the blog a little.

Thanks Mummy

Imogen was pleased to have the dress out of the craft box. I had a bit of a lazy day yesterday and indulged in some crafting. I finished Laura's birthday cardi and her birthday isn't until the end of November. I will post that tomorrow if I get around to taking the photos today.

A run down of my wips = baby socks, baby blanket, cross stitch (longest running wip).
My next projects = cardi for my friend, Immy's birthday cardi (for February), cotton basket covers, socks for Josie, Jay and me. My stash covers everything but Imogens, just can't decide on colour.......

Hand me downs

 

As a mum of four daughters I do so appreciate hand me down clothes. I also like to  reduce our family's footprint on the earth so I am always op shopping. A friend with girls recently gave us some clothes and in the treasure bag was this lovely yellow cotton dress. Imogen was particularly excited when she realised it would fit her. However it was a strapless dress and the girls prefer some straps on their clothes so I put it in my craft box to add some straps to later. Well a few months later Immy remembered the dress and started asking. I was just going to buy some ribbon for straps but last week I found some yellow cotton, perfect for crochet straps.

 

 

So today I am finally putting some straps on the dress. The cotton was 50 cents in a mark down box. Atleast the dress will be ready for summer and best of all it still will fit Imogen.

Dinner view

We had dinner at one of our favourite local spots tonight. A favourite thing for us to do is to have a picnic dinner out. We got pizza and headed up to enjoy dinner with a view. The photo was just taken on Josie's ipod and while I was putting it on my laptop I spotted this one she took of the night sky a while ago, I am impressed with the shot I have to say, she is a clever girl.

Inspiring

I am reading Catherine Hamlin's book at the moment and am feeling all inspired, what an amazing woman.

Missing a few pegs

My youngest daughter has a few gaps in her smile, I do love these toothless pics, bittersweet knowing she is the last of my babes to be losing her baby teeth.